How to Make a Woven Duct Tape Purse

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

1 roll Duct Tape in Main Color
1 roll Duct Tape in Contrast Color
(optional) 1 roll Duct Tape in Contrast Color 2
Scissors (preferably ones that are unloved and can get sticky)
Large stick resistant surface (cutting board, for example)
Self-sticking Velcro square
Ruler

Step 1

Folding the tape in half can be tricky!

Make the Strips:
- Measure out 25 inches of your main color. Cut it and fold it in half HORIZONTALLY. Repeat 12 times.

- Measure out 12 inches of your contrast color tape. Cut it and fold in half HORIZONTALLY. Repeat 23 times, doing a few in contrast color 2 if you want.

When doing this step, try to avoid leaving a sticky white edge. You should end up with two piles of non-sticky duct tape strips half the width of normal tape, in two different lengths. Yay!
Step 2

Over and under, then under and over . . .

Weave them Together:
- Line the main color strips up next to each other, halfway over a 14 inch strip of main color tape. Fold the 14 inch strip horizontally over the edges of the strips.

- Weave the contrast color strips through the main color, starting under the first strip, then over the second. Add in contrast color 2 strips if you made some.

- When you get to the end, trim the last edges and cover it with another 14 inch strip of main color tape, folded to cover the front and the back.

You should end up with a woven duct tape mat.
Step 3

Don't worry--the weaving is still there!

Add Lining and tidy the edges:
- Cover one side of the woven mat with long pieces of contrast color. This will act as a lining for the inside of the purse, while allowing the woven part to be seen on on the outside.

- Cut 2 26 inch strip of main color tape. Place one horizontally halfway across the long edge of the mat. Fold it around to the backside of the mat. Repeat on the last exposed edge.
Step 4

Rulers are your friend.

Make the Sides:
- Make a duct tape sheet from your main color tape that is two duct tape strips wide (approximately 4 inches)[dd tut. for this] and 8 inches tall.

- Trim this sheet so that it is 4 inches at the bottom and 2 inches at the top. (Do this by measuring 1 inch from each side at the top, marking each point, then using a ruler to create the triangle-without-a-point {or trapezoid, if you want to get technical} shape)
Step 5

Complicated Trapezoid makes for neat purse.

Tape the sides to the purse:
- Measure 8 inches down from one edge of the woven mat. That is where the 4 inch part of your trapezoid will get taped.

- Fold the 8 inch edge of the mat up to meet one 8 inch edge of the trapezoid. Tape the two edges together on both the inside and outside of the woven mat.

- Repeat on the other side.

One edge of the woven mat will be too long for the trapezoid--that is intentional. It will become the closing flap. Just tape as far up as you can go, and leave the remaining 4 or 5 inches hanging.
Step 6

See, neat purse!

Just an image of what step 5 should end up with. :)
See, slightly fatter at the bottom, skinnier at the top, and an overhanging edge.
Pretty.
Make sure to tape the outside AND the inside edges. Makes the purse stronger and nicer-looking.
Step 7

Very long strips to make the strap.

Make the Strap:
- Using contrast color 2 tape (or contrast color, if you didn't want contrast 2) cut two pieces of tape slightly longer than half as long you want your strap to be.
- Place one piece halfway horizontally across the other. Fold it over the edge. Fold the remaining edge over also.

Do this all again, then tape the two long strips together.

- Tape one end of this strip to the inside side of the purse. Repeat on the other side.
Step 8

Add Flap Closure:
- Halfway long the overhanging edge that you left in step 5, fold a 4 inch strip from the front, over itself, to the back.
- Add the sticky velcro piece to the underside of this flap, and put the matching velcro piece to the main purse body in the corresponding point.

Voila! A completed woven duct tape purse.

Comments

paperbackchic said

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on 7/13/2009 There's a woman who lives near me that makes and sells duct tape purses for $25 each. And she sells men's wallets for $20. They're really cool!